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Patented oci. 26, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT oEEicE Tor A Owen R. Dailey,Rockford. Ill. Application Nuvember 4, 1940, sei-iai No. 364,169 4Claims. (Cl. 273-147) This invention relates to tops of the kindadapted, when spun at the proper speed, to become inverted automaticallyand to continue spinning in inverted position.

The general object is to provide such a top which is simple andinexpensive to construct, which does not require accurate constructionor balance to operate in the intended manner, and which may be madegenerally hemispherical in shape.

Another object is to arrange in a novel manner the weighted portions bywhich automatic inversion is obtained.

A further object is to provide a construction which may be cast.

Other objects and advantages of lhe invention will become apparent fromthe following detailed description taken in connection with theaccompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view ofa top embodying the present invention, the section being taken along theline I-I of Fig. 2.

Fig. 2 is a plan section taken along the line 2--2 of Fig. 1.

Figs. 3 to '1, inclusive, are elevational views i1- lustrating differentpositions of the top in operation.

Fig. 8 is a vertical cross sectional view of a modified form of the top.Fig. 9 is a plan view of the top shown in Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of a modified'form of the top.

Fig. 11 is an elevational view partially in section.

While the invention is susceptible of various modifications andalternative constructions, I have shown in the drawing and will hereindescribe in detail the preferred embodiment. It is to be understood,however, that I do not intend to limit the invention by such disclosurebut aim to cover all modifications and alternative constructions fallingwithin the spirit and scope oi the invention as expressed in theappended claims.

Generally stated, the improved top comprises a stem upstanding from asubstantially hemispherical body which is weighted laterally of its axisand also along the axis adjacent its pole so as to produce the propercombination of centrifugal and gyroscopic forces when spun in the normalway.

In the preferred form shown in Figs, 1 and 2, the top body and stem Iand 2 are formed as one integral piece as by plastic molding. The bodyhas a generally hemispherical external contour and is made hollow with awall 3 of substantially uniform thickness projecting upwardly above thediametrical plane 4 of the hemisphere. Adjacent the pole of thehemisphere, the wall is thickened as indicated at 5 to provide one ofthe control weights for producing the inverting action.

Upstanding from the upper flat surface of the thickened portion 5 is acentral cylindrical post 6 which is connected to the wall 3 by twocoplanar webs I and 8 which complete the rigid body structure. Provisionis made for shifting the center of gravity of the hemisphere laterallyof the axis 9. 'I'his is accomplished herein by making the web 1 thickerthan the web 8 by an amount corresponding to the unbalanced weightdesired.

'I'he stem 2 upstands from the post 6 along the axis 9. Its length inrelation to the height and curvature of the body is not critical, but isof the approximate proportions shown and correlated with the controlweights so that the top as a whole may in effect roll from the tippedover position (Fig. 6) to the fully inverted position (Fig. 7).Actually, the stem length and weights are correlated in a manner suchthat the top, when not spinning and tipped over, substantially balancesin the position shown in Fig. 6.

If desired, a cover l0 may be provided on the hollow body. This maycomprise a disk of paper, Celluloid or the like pressed down over thestem against the ends of the wall 3 and the post 6.

When the top is made of wood, the bodyil preferably comprises a solidhemisphere and formed with a bore Il into which the stem, separatelyformed, is held with a press fit. To provide the axial control weightcorresponding to the portion 5 of Fig. 1, a weight l2 such as a. smalllead shot is disposed in the bore Il below the stem, the bore beingextended to the proper depth in order to accommodate the weight, Theeccentric weight is provided by a separate shot i3 pressed into ashallow recess I4 drilled in the fiat upper surface of the body.

The action of the top is illustrated in Figs. 3 to 7. To spin it, thestem 2 is held between the thumb and forengers in the usual way andtwirled rapidly as the top is released onto a smooth supporting surfaceI5 while turning about its axis 9 then vertically disposed as shown inFig. 3. Due to the eccentricity of the side weight and lts dispositionabove the point of supporting surface, a centrifugal force is createdwhich acts at an effective moment arm such as to overcome the gyroscopiceiiect of the axial weight 5 and to cause tilting oi the top toward theposition shown in Fig. 4. The axis of rotation remains upright asindicated at I6 while the top axis 9 tilts gradually depending on thespeed of rotation at the time of release and the character of thesupporting surface. As this tilting continues, the

side weight becomes less effective while the botaction continues slowly,the top passes through the position shown in Fig. 6, whereupon the pointof support is transferred from the peripheral edge i6 onto the edge ofthe stem end l1. If the spinning has been initiated at a suflicientlyhigh speed, the tilting forces developed will be of a magnitude such asto tip the top on end as shown in Fig. 'l as an incident to which thetop axis 9 again approaches and substantially coincides with therotational axis. As a result, the top continues to spin at a slowerspeed in inverted position. In this position and at the slower speed,the unbalanced side weight does not create sufficient force to overcomethe gyroscopic force of the axial weight. Accordingly, the top spinsupside down until its energy is dissipated whereupon it tips back intothe position shown in Fig. 6.

If desired, the top may be utilized advantageously in games of chance.To this end, legends 20 may be printed in an annular series on the uppersurface of the disk I0. These coact with a pointer 2i apertured at itscenter and received on the stem 2 where it is held by a pressed onWasher 22. As an incident to spinning the top, the

pointer will turn to some indeterminate degree and will assume a newangular position each time the top comes to rest.

I claim as my invention:

l. A top of the character describedcox'nprising a hollow substantiallyhemisphere, a post rigid with the bottom of said hemisphere andupstanding therefrom to denne a stem, and webs rigidly joining said postand the wall of said hemisphere, said webs 'having diiIerent masseswhereby the center of gravity is disposed laterally of the axis of saidhemisphere.

2. A top comprising a hemispherical body having a generally iiat uppersurface, a stem projectlng from said surface along the axis of saidbody, and means within said hemispherical body providing an unbalancedweight eccentrically of the body axis and an eccentrically balancedweight concentrated along said axis adjacent the surface of the body.

3. A top comprising a solid inverted hemispherical body with a boreextending into the ilattened side of the body to a point adjacent thebottom of the body, a weight in the lower end of said bore, a stempressed into said bore and upstanding from said flattened side, and aweight sunk in said flattened side eccentrically of the stem, saidweights being positioned and proportional to cause automatic inversionof the top when the latter is spun at a predetermined speed.

4. A top of the character described comprising, a hemispherical bodyhaving a substantially flat upper surface terminating in acircumferential edge disposed slightly above a diametrical plane of thehemisphere normal to the polar axis, and a stem projecting above saidbody along the polar axis, said body being symmetrically Weightedadjacent its pole and eccentrically Weighted adjacent said plane.

OWEN R. DAILEY.

